Recommendations on cheap semi-automatic rifle calibers wanted.

First of all, to those reading, thanks for taking the time to open up my thread.

I called upon THR's forum members earlier this month for their help in picking a semiautomatic rifle and I decided on getting a Krebs Custom KTR-08 (AK-103 clone on Saiga receiver).

Now I am stuck. I got plenty of good suggestions, but damn these are tough times to get ammunition at a good price (7.62x39 is too rough for me now, I'm wary of Wolf brand).

So now I propose a question for you all:

Can you recommend a semi-auto rifle newbie some cheap rifle calibers for ammunition? Excluding 5.56 and 7.62x39 (can't find any good deals on these, unless you guys can :)) and the .22LR (not very interested, no offense) I've been looking at some semi-auto rifle calibers not mentioned nearly as much as the previous two such as the 5.7 (PS-90) and the .243, among others.

Do you guys have any suggestions? I'm DYING for a .308, .243, or .270 (DSA's FALs) but considering my situation that option obviously isn't viable (unless you can, for the love of God, TELL ME THERE ARE CHEAP SOURCES THAT EXIST!).

Thank you again folks, you have helped me make good decisions in the past.

As far as Wolf ammunition goes ive heard it shoots fine except it has a steel casing that beats the hell out of your receiver if you cycle a good number of rounds.

hunter25

May 29, 2009, 11:28 PM

The Ak rifles were designed for steel case ammo like wolf. Although I don't use it in other guns I shoot it extensively in my SAIGA. Although cheap it is not very accurate. 5MOA

Dan Crocker

May 29, 2009, 11:32 PM

You can get a 5.45x39 AK rifle. That ammo is cheap and tons of fun.

RP88

May 29, 2009, 11:33 PM

off a bench I can maybe get a little over 3moa with wolf x39 out of my Saiga, but the average is 4-6". Good enough to 200 yards, though. But other than 5.45, you have already ran through your list of potential candidates.

Maverick223

May 29, 2009, 11:49 PM

Wolf will be fine in an AK variant. I second the 5.45, cheap and a bit more accurate.

LJ-MosinFreak-Buck

May 30, 2009, 12:54 AM

.243 is almost a dollar a round now, or a little higher. I went to bass pro, a box of 20 was 21 somethin, and at walmart was 15 something... I'm looking into getting my only .243, my savage model 110 rebarreld for 7.62x51 NATO because of the price of .243

VA27

May 30, 2009, 12:55 AM

Buy a Drag in 7.62X54. Ammo's still cheap.

Nothing wrong with steel cased ammo. Wolf or anyone elses.

Maverick223

May 30, 2009, 01:19 AM

Buy a Drag in 7.62X54.Right...and the rifle is about $3-5k.

JWF III

May 30, 2009, 01:21 AM

Cheap ammo? 'Bout the only thing left "cheap" is .22lr, when you can find it. 5.45x39 and 7.62x54R are still somewhat cheap (when compared to others), but I know around here you'll never find any in a shop. It's internet or gun show only for those two in these parts.

7.62x25 would be another choice. But you'll have the same problem I mentioned with the other two metrics. Plus the cheapest carbine I know of is the PPsH semiauto clones, for around $4k. But you'd have a cool carbine that not many others would have.

Wyman

Maverick223

May 30, 2009, 01:38 AM

Plus the cheapest carbine I know of is the PPsH semiauto clones, for around $4k.They have them on gunbroker for about $800, which is still overpriced IMO.

Sunray

May 30, 2009, 03:33 AM

SA Town, my son, you have a desparate need to jump the hoops and look into an M1 Carbine or an M1 Rifle from the CMP. I'd opt for my carbine for fighting(officer), but no rifle is quite like a Garand. There's something about an M1 rifle that no other rifle has. And I've shot all kinds of battle rifles. Not one comes close to an M1. Not even the C1A1 the CF let me use.
Start here. http://www.thecmp.org/eligibility.htm
Shoot the matches, even if you don't have to. You'll meet some of the greatest people, who will bend over backwards to help a new guy, including letting you shoot their rifles, you'll ever meet.
$595 for a Service grade M1 Rifle. $495 to $565 for a Carbine. Ammo is available too.
"...I'm wary of Wolf brand..." S'ok, depending on the ammo. However, if 7.62 x 39 ammo is too expensive for you, .243 or .270, of any brand, will give you a heart attack. Reloading makes the endless search for the best price for ammo go away.

briansmithwins

May 30, 2009, 10:00 AM

5.56 NATO and 7.62x39 ARE the cheap rifle calibers.

You could get an Uzi or Sterling carbine, but even 9mmP is running $250/1k anymore.

BSW

JWF III

May 30, 2009, 02:59 PM

They have them on gunbroker for about $800, which is still overpriced IMO.

I'd almost be willing to pay that. I never have really looked hard at them. Pretty much the only looking I've done was when they first started getting out pretty good. When I saw the MSRP I decided I'd just save for the real thing. But if they could be had for under $1k, I'd like to have a couple different models to go with the restof my milsurp collection.

Wyman

dscottw88

May 30, 2009, 08:14 PM

I'm sorry but if you think 5.56 and 7.62x39 are expensive, then you should just do yourself a favor and rule out any .308 gun. The price of .308 is nearly double that of 5.56.

You can buy an AK in 5.45, there is quite a bit of surplus out there for it right now. Or you can buy a romanian PSL of aimsurplus.com and shoot cheap 7.62x54 in it. Careful though, once that surplus stuff runs out it will be just as expensive if not moreso than domestically produced .223.